PM's defence pledges 'will be taken with pinch of salt' if not funded

SIR Keir Starmer has been warned to deliver on his defence spending pledge ahead of a major report published today.

- By Katie Harris

The PM is set to announce Britain will spend billions of pounds on bolstering the nation's defences to ensure the military is ready in the face of growing threats from Russia.

James Cartlidge, Shadow Defence Secretary, said: "All of Labour's strategic defence review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them."

He added that far from guaranteeing the funding, Defence Secretary John Healey had "been hung out to dry" by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

"As recently as Thursday, Healey promised that defence spending would definitely hit 3%, but he's completely backtracked," he added.

Extensive proposals for rearmament and a revived defence industry will form part of the 62 recommendations the Government is expected to accept in full.